May 8, 2007

Raffi Hovannisian Holds Press Briefing

Yerevan—Yesterday, May 7, Heritage’s campaign bus “Toward Victory” took Raffi K. Hovannisian and his fellow candidates to the various towns in the marzes of Aragatsotn and Armavir, where spontaneous public meetings became the venue for citizens’ opinions, questions, and hopes.

Heritage representatives also held a town hall meeting in Yerevan’s Shengavit community. At the Garegin Nzhdeh Square, which overflowed with thousands of citizens, Raffi Hovannisian, Vardan Khachatrian, Larisa Alaverdian, Anahit Bakhshian, and other party candidates presented Heritage’s program and vowed to build a country of liberty, law, and dignity.

Today, in the early morning, Raffi Hovannisian, together with Heritage members and volunteers, visited the Yerablur cemetery and paid his respects to those who gave their life to Armenia’s independence and freedom.

At 11am, Raffi Hovannisian held a press briefing at Heritage Headquarters, where he declared an imminent victory for Heritage and the entire Armenian people. Victory, according to Hovannisian, means that, for the first time since 1991, the Central Election Commission will record a faithful representation of the people’s votes. “If that proves to be the case, we have no doubt that Heritage will be the winner,” he said. “But if the election results announced by the Central Election Commission fabricate the people’s will, Armenia’s national interests and international reputation will be paralyzed. Everything, therefore, is at stake.”

Afterward, Raffi Hovannisian and Heritage spokesman Hovsep Khurshudian attended a meeting of political leaders and journalists. Held at the Armenia Marriott Hotel, the discussion focused on the illegal actions carried out by law enforcement agencies against Armenia’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Arzumanian. During his intervention, Hovannisian condemned the incumbent authorities’ selective enforcement of the law. He reminded also of the unlawful pursuit and arrest of Zhirair Sefilian and Vardan Malkhasian, two devotees of Karabagh’s quest for liberty and self-determination. Hovannisian stressed that these recent transgressions prove yet again that a democratic transfer of power on May 12 is a national imperative.

All throughout the day, Heritage candidates and volunteers continued their campaign throughout Yerevan and the marzes.